Father to Son: Polonius' Advice to Laertes: When you leave for college, work, the military, or the "real world," what advice would your parents give you? What would be the most important advice? If I could read to you any piece of literature upon your graduation, I would choose a speech from Act 1, scene 3 of Hamlet. Laertes' father, Polonius, gives him a list of things to keep in mind as he leaves for school in Wittenberg. Read and annotate the passage. In a paragraph, defend three "precepts" Polonius tells Laertes that are the most relevant to young people today. Keep in mind that Polonius himself indicates the most important for his situation and his son: "This above all: To thine own self be true, / And it must follow as the night the day, / Thou canst not be false to any man." Is this still the most important? the most relevant? Begin by introducing the speech and its purpose. Briefly provide this context, remembering to cite the title and author of the play, as well as indicating the Act and scene. Then, move into a discussion of relevance, significance, and defense. Cite effective evidence from the passage to support your ideas. On pain of torture, do not use any variation of "This quote shows that…" Please type this paragraph using MLA format. Bring your draft to the class after we read and discuss the passage.

"Once upon a time" OR "It was a dark, and stormy night": The significance of opening a story: The way an author begins a piece of literature (fiction or nonfiction) is important. Writing is deliberate. An author creates a story the same way a painter creates a piece of art. Keeping this in mind, notice the details that Shakespeare uses to open Hamlet. Read Act 1, scene 1 carefully. Annotate the passage, noticing the diction and imagery in particular, as well as any other techniques that create a pattern. Write a short response in which you explain how Shakespeare establishes the mood and tone of the scene through diction, imagery, and any other techniques you noted. Cite effective evidence from the passage to support your ideas. On pain of torture, do not use any variation of "This quote shows that…" Please type this paragraph using MLA format. Bring your draft to the class after we read and discuss the passage.

Hamlet Scene Analysis - Page to Screen: Once the film is over, you need to choose ONE scene from your notes to develop into a "mini-essay" - 2-3 paragraphs. Answer the following prompt in your response: Discuss a scene that is essential to an audience's understanding of Hamlet by analyzing how Franco Zeffirelli interprets the source text from Shakespeare. What significant elements did he maintain, change, or omit? Was his interpretation of the source text effective? How and why?In order to answer this question, you must first name the scene (make sure to state the title and author of the play), BRIEFLY describe the scene and explain why it is essential to an audience's understanding of the play, then discuss the Zeffirelli interpretation (offering significant examples). Make sure to spell the director's name correctly. Practice EFFECTIVE, COLLEGE-LEVEL WRITING. Incorporate everything we have discussed to this point. Make me proud. Move my soul. Bring a typed completed draft the block after we finish viewing the film.

Hamlet Discussion - Whole PlayYou will be assigned one of eight discussion questions from your Hamlet discussion question handout. Treat this as a mini-essay. Write a well-developed paragraph in which you answer the question, drawing appropriate support from the play.

Mrs. Amy Carter

acarter@lexrich5.org

803.575.5400803.575.5420 (fax)

Chapin High School300 Columbia AvenueChapin, South Carolina 29036​United States of America

"As we let our own lights shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others." - Marianne Williamson